Egypt and Jordan - Page Text Content

BC: This was a very interesting trip as it happened just as North Africa and the Middle East erupted in demonstrations, toppling governments and leading to Civil war (Libya). We were incredibly lucky to get out in time but felt anxious and sorry for our tour guides and some friends we had made. While all our discussions with cab drivers, restaurant owners etc made clear that their frustration with the government, the corruption and the paternalistic attitudes were deep seated, we had no idea that they were so close to take action.

FC: January 11th-29th 2011 EGYPT and JORDAN

1: Saqqara waiting for the taxi to get fixed again

2: Citadel Cairo and Cairo Tower

3: GIZEH

4: The 3 Musketeers in GiIZEH but I was there too! Th

5: The other Egypt:very dirty, crowded and totally dependent on tourism. Many young people, often educated, most without jobs. and unable to get visas to leave the country.. The big demonstrations started just days before we left Egypt. | Egyptian Museum, Cairo | Miles of mostly uninhabited buildings just outside the city core.

6: Asswan Dam Monument by Sovjets | Aga Khan's Mausoleum.Views from Camel Ride in the Desert across from Asswan | In and around Asswan

7: Evening Stroll on Camel in the Desert across from Asswan

8: Dinner D | Traditional dinner in Nubian Village on Elephantine Island in private house, (including French Fries). | Amazing colours (not really captured on film) at sunrise over the desert on the way to Abu Simbel.

9: Abu Simbel

10: In Asswan we stayed in a hotel across a narrow street from the court house. These are some scenes from our balcony, observing the employees, the women waiting for the end of the trials, the soldiers guarding the place.

11: Tacking down the Nile for a day and a night..on a Falucca. Cathy and Viviane locked in a Scrabble battle.. The supply boat provided us with washrooms and delicious meals.. The river traffic was teeming with large and noisy ships full of semi dressed tourists. We had a quiet and leisurely trip. with just enough wind to sail. | Oar, bench and gangway in one

12: Camel market where the presence of the women in our group provoked some astoundingly inappropriate behaviour in the men.

13: Karnak and Luxor

14: Sunset and Moon over Karnak

15: Valley of the King s (no pictures allowed) Market Scenes

16: Back again to Cairo by overnight train and onward to the Sinai Desert

17: By ferry to Aqaba and onward to Wadi Rum by way of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom (Lawrence of Arabia) Spending a day in a Bedouin camp, sleeping in tents in below zero temperatures but eating a most delicious traditionally cooked meal. | Finally a day without 2 layers of fleece at the Red Sea! Playing Scrabble of course!

18: Bedouin Camp at Wadi Rum

19: Wadi Rum "4 wheel drive excursion". 4 hours through the desert on the back of an old pick up truck, climbing the Arch and looking down a cistern

20: Petroglyphs, tea by sunset in the desert, washrooms in the camp

21: The Magnificence of the Desert

22: Little Petra has fantastic rock formations

23: PETRA!

24: A- MA-ZING PETRA

26: More views of Petra Crusader Castle in Karak

27: Water Ballet in the Dead Sea | Mount Nebo where Moses died according to legend and fabulous early Byzantine mosaics including very early map of Palestine in Madaba

28: Great little museum at the Citadel of Amman. Girls with giant bow in her hair,Greek/Roman gods, Nabatean artifacts, clay coffins. Great view over Amman and the first demonstrations against the government. Egypt by now was embroiled in protests